The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-10-05
HIS OWN MURDER.
A Curious Case of Circumstan-
tiai Evidence.


lfany man could look into the Sybi-
, line leaf of the future and catch glimpse
| of the various vicissitudes and misfort-
unes with which he must struggle, be
would turn sharply around, and seek the
: nearest course short Of suicide TO nd him
self of those trials which might shake his
manhood; and 50 give up all the sunshine
OF existence to avoid its shadows. For
tllnately, hoseyer, man has not the priv
ilege of foreknowledge, faculty which
few would have the courage 70 render
servieeable, and which most would con-
vert into an engine Of misery and sfiiic-
ton.
Justice has indeed been painted blind,
and very expensive portrait she makes
in that way. If mot really blind, Justice
Is certainly, in some cases, short sighted
and this same blindness or near-sighted-
ness has very often placed the necks of
many unfortunates within the grasp of
the rnerciless legal halter.
Juan Suarez, Mexican by birth and
wanderer by nature as well as by neces-
sity, had for many years been wander
er from his native country, seeking to
crafty love of variety and to smass a
fortune. Having accomplished both TO
considerable degree he thought he
would explore Mexico on foot.
Cp from the river Tobasco, in the ex-
treme southeast Of Mexico, there stood at
the time Of our story, an ivy entwined
cottage which vas dignifed by the term
inn. Having Travelled considerably one
day, hot and fatigued, suarez stopped at
this inn to refresh himself, and was soon
seated among the motely group Of the
usual hangers-on at such places Of resort.
I Finding that about two miles further or
the road he should arrive at a small mar
ket town. where the accommodations for
the night Of a much more convenient ma
ture could be procured, he resolved TO 90
thither.
When he took out his purse TO pay his
bill he casually exposed a quantity Of
money, and the bOors Of the village who
surrounded the table looked upon the
wealth with avariciOus eyes While SUI
arez counted out certain sum he motto
ed greedy-eyed, Unlocking fellow fix
his eyes upon him and his purse in a
way that did not please him.
Suarez soon took his departure and
4 proceeded leisurely on to his destination.
I The evening began to close, and on ar
irving at dull part of the rad, over
hung by high banks and covered with
I fi1rze and briars, he suddenly found him
self stunned by blow by some one from
/ behind, and he fell insensible 10 the
ground.
When he became sen-conscious he
was bleeding and lying in a wet ditch,
half-drowned, apparently in his own
blood. 4 man was leaning over him,
and hutnaneiy endeavoFing to assist him.
Finally he concluded that Suarez Was
dead. and started off to make known his
discovery
II was nearly dark when suarez arous-
! ed himself and resumed his tramp. His
clothes were wet through, and after
washing himself he pu. on another suit.
which he carried in knapsaek. He re
called the ill-looking fellow al the inn,
who cast such sinister glances at his mon
ey, and Immediately suspected him as
/ his assailant. The fellow. however, had
not secured Suarezs money. and the lat
ter thought it very funny that the fellow
had not robbed him. as the object Of the
assault was undoubtedly robbery.
After fstiguing walk Suarez arrived
at the inn in the adjoining town, and had
scarcely taken his seat before he over
heard conversation among several men,
stationed at the other end Of the room;
accompanied by expressive looks toward /
him. As he was stranger in the place 1
he was not particularly surprised The (
conversation soon became louder, and at 4
length, Susrez heard a strangely exa gger- I
aied story OF his own murder.
1t Was confidently asserted that stran- !
ger had been robbed and murdered a /.
short distance from the town, and that I
ne had been found IN ditch with his I
skull fractured, his brains scattered about !
the road and his pockets turned inside /
out Suarez listened 10 this marvellous |
history with considerable amusement, !
and thought how easily strange story Is !
made to pass current, though based on |
the 6imsiest Of facts
After taking some refreshments Suarez 1
proposed 10 retire. and took a quantity !
ef money TO Iay in advance for his ac-
cornmcdstion As he did 50, one Of the I
party Of men conversing together, came
up to him. and after imPudently gazing
into his face. turned 70 his eomEanions 4
and mysteriously whispered:
'There's blood on this mans face He
has got quantity Of money Where did
he come FROM Who Is he9
The crowd seemed excited. and the oil
fellow again approached Suarez, and ask
ed him where he had got the money
then in bis possession, and sarcasticaily
asked if such money grew on bushes.
Being answered in a careless manner he
put his finger eunningly TO his nose and
cl.Sseiy scrufinizing Snarez. remarked
aloud that the latter had blood on his
face. and that his appearances was some
what suspicious
At this juncture the man who had
found suarez in the ditch put in an ap-
Issaranee and proceeded to relate in the
most picturesque style, how he found
strange man with his skull fractured and
his pockets turned inside out, lying in the
ditch, quite dead de stated be went for
assistance TO the village, and on inquir-
ing at the inn there he had discovered
that man dressed answering the de
scription of Suarez had been there and
had displayed quantity of money. Hay-
ing obtained assistance, he returned to
the spot where he left the numbered
stranger, but, instead Of finding him, he
discovered that during his absence, the
body had been stripped and removed,
and, as be believed, buried, and the
clothes were lying scattered about the
ditch
Suarex iistepesi to All with an amused